Using the Connecticut Preschool Assessment Framework …

1 Using the Connecticut Preschool Assessment Framework with the New Connecticut early learning and development Standards The Connecticut early learning and development Standards (CT ELDS) are statements about what young children from birth to age five should know and be able to do. They provide the basis for planning learning environments and experiences, supporting individual children, and communicating around common goals. The CT ELDS are intended to be a part of a continuous cycle of intentional teaching, comprised of planning experiences to support children s development , gathering information about how they are progressing, and adjusting what is being done to support their continued growth based on this information.

2 As a part of the cycle of intentional teaching, an Assessment tool aligned to the CT ELDS should be used to determine how children are progressing across these domains of development . Connecticut is currently working with a consortium of states to create a developmentally appropriate Assessment tool aligned to our new CT early learning and development Standards. Until a new Assessment is available, the continued use of the Connecticut Preschool Assessment Framework (CT PAF) is recommended. The crosswalk of both documents will allow programs currently Using the CT PAF to continue Using this Assessment tool, while also Using the CT ELDS to plan curriculum, learning experiences, teaching strategies and supports for children.

3 There is general consistency between the CT Preschool Assessment Framework and the CT early learning and development Standards, although there is typically more detail within the later document. Some important considerations in Using this document Both the CT ELDS and the CT PAF include learning progressions, or benchmarks, that reflect the growth and development of specific skills over time. The CT PAF was designed to reflect skills that children typically develop between the ages of 2 years to 6 years of age. The CT ELDS have multiple age bands that span from birth to five years of age.

4 In some cases the CT PAF includes important milestones in the first benchmark, or at approximately 2 years of age, because that was the youngest age captured in the Assessment . However, in some cases children typically develop these skills prior to 2 years of age. Because the CT ELDS include younger age bands, those skills are captured at the ages at which they typically emerge. This alignment was done for each of the thirty CT PAF performance standards. It did not include the items on the cover sheet of the Assessment that address adjustment to school, relationships with adults and second language acquisition.

5 Corresponding learning progressions for the CT ELDS are listed, with any special considerations noted. While the alignment was not done for each individual indicator in the CT ELDS, Using the full learning progressions, including all indicators, will be helpful for planning learning experiences for children. It is not necessary to assess children s skills for each learning progression or indicator. Many assessments group skills into performance standards or observations which allow one to collect information regarding the practical application of skills in real-life situations.

6 Therefore, it is likely that with the newly developed tool, there will be CT ELDS learning progressions that are not assessed. There are several learning progressions in the CT ELDS for which there are no corresponding CT PAF performance standards. It is strongly recommended that the learning progressions are included in the process of planning for curriculum or learning experiences, although they are currently not assessed on the CT PAF. Programs may want to consider a format for observing children s skills in these areas. PERSONAL AND SOCIAL Performance Standard BENCHMARKS FOR 2 1/2 to 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN P & S 1 Shows self-direction with range of materials Selects and uses a limited range of familiar materials Selects familiar materials.

7 Participates in unfamiliar activities with teacher support Usually participates in both familiar and unfamiliar activities Independently selects and participates in a variety of activities Connecticut early learning and development Standards Aligned learning Progressions Domain: Cognition Strand: early learning experiences will support children in their approaches to learning . learning Progressions: Curiosity and initiative Engagement with Environment, People and Objects Eagerness to Learn Strand: early learning experiences will support children to develop executive functioning.

8 learning Progression: Choosing and Planning Domain: Social Emotional Strand: early learning experiences will support children to develop self-awareness, self- concept and competence. learning Progression: Self-concept and Competency Special Considerations: The CT ELDS offer more specific information about how children engage with materials and activities as they demonstrate self-direction. The CT ELDS emphasize the importance of child-choice and independent selection of familiar and unfamiliar materials and activities across multiple strands and learning progressions.

9 The learning progression of Curiosity and Initiative includes exploration, seeking information, Using different materials and investigating ways to make things happen. The learning progression of Cause and Effect includes more specific detail, including showing interest in the results of their own action, repeating actions and noticing the results, and eventually trying multiple uses of the same materials and observing the differing results. The learning progression of Choosing and Planning includes more detail, specifically addressing children making a plan in selecting materials and eventually following through and reflecting on their plan.

10 Selecting familiar and unfamiliar materials is an important milestone addressed in the PAF, but this skill typically emerges at ages prior to those addressed in the PAF as reflected in the CT ELDS. PERSONAL AND SOCIAL Performance Standard BENCHMARKS FOR 2 1/2 to 6-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN P & S 2 Sustains attention to task/goal that child has set out to accomplish Sustains attention primarily to self-selected, high interest tasks Sustains attention to high-interest, self-selected task until complete or reaches frustration level Sustains attention to variety of self-selected tasks until complete despite some frustration Persists in both self-selected and teacher-directed tasks until task is completed Connecticut early learning and development Standards Aligned learning Progressions Domain: Cognition Strand: early learning experiences will support children in their approaches to learning learning Progression.